My what big moves Kevin Garnett had. My, what elevation, what spin this way, fadeaway that way, nothing but net grace he had.

Kenny Thomas and more specifically Eddie Griffin were thrown to the Wolves on Saturday night, all right. They were at the mercy of the phenomenal Garnett.

Once an NBA youngster barely removed from prom night, like Griffin, Garnett slapped the Rockets' kid forward on the backside to welcome him, then laid a 37-point, 12-rebound pounding on Thomas and Griffin.

This was an enlightening night in three ways: For the Rockets, for Thomas and for Griffin.

The Rockets tried to approach the Saturday night showdown with the Timberwolves as a playoff game -- some kind of testing ground for Rockets playoff dreams.